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T, ROBERTSON CLOTHES-POUNDERS. No. 190,372.

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Specification forming arrot Leta, Patent No. {190,372, dated May 1, 181.7 application filed- February 5, 1877.

and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olothes-Washers, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of clothes-washers in which the clothes are beaten or pounded while in the water by means of a reciprocating plunger, its object being to force a current of air through the clothes at each upward motionof the plunger, which materially assists the plunger in its work, and more thoroughly cleanses the clothes than when subjected to the action of the plunger simply.

My invention consists of a novel construction and arrangement of parts, which will be fully hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claim, a preliminary explanation being therefore deemed unnecessary.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention; Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 a view looking from the under side.

The letter A represents the outer shell, constructed of zinc, tin, or other suitable material, and consisting of a lower cylindrical portion, a, and an upper conical portion, b, which is surmounted by a tube, 0, at the top. The letter D represents an inner shell, but of such size as to permit it to be reciprocated back and forth in the outer shell. Said inner shell is provided with a rod or tube, E, which extends upward through the tube O, and is provided with a packing, F, of rubber or other suitable material. The inner shell is provided with a horizontal partition, G, at a short distance from its lower edge, and the space below said partition is divided into a series of compartments by means of a series of radial partitions, H, which start from a tube, I, and extend to the sides of the inner shell or plunger, the lower edges of said partition projecting some distance below the lower edge of the said inner shell, and tapering off toward the edge.

The compartments between said radial partitions are made to communicate with the space within the conical part of the inner shell by means of apertures k in the horizontal partition, and the tube I is also provided with apertures, and put in communication with said space, the apertures serving to discharge the air into the clothes as the plunger is operated. The space within said conical portion of the inner shell communicates with the space within the outer shell by means of suitable apertures M in the tube 1.

The operation of my apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The clothes being placed in a tub of water, the apparatus is placed upon the clothes, and a reciprocating motion is given to the inner shell or plunger by means of the rod or tube attached thereto. At each downward stroke of the plunger the clothes are beaten or pound.- ed. On the upward stroke the air is compressed between the inner and outer shells, and forced through the apertures leading to the chambers in the plunger, and from thence directly through the clothes. As the plunger is forced downward a current of air is drawn through the clothes to fill the space between the inner and outer shells, thus materially assisting the operation of the plunger.

Instead of the top of the outer shell being conical, it may be a perfect cylinder, and the handle may be supported by suitable braces attached to the upper end of the casing and to the handle.

The lower edges of the partitions H H are rounded or made longer atthe center of the plunger than the sides composing said plunger, and also the outer casing, which is for the purpose of preventing the plunger from sucking or drawing the clothes up into the casing A as the plunger is drawn up, inas much as the said lengthened portions of the partitions hold the clothes down below the edge of the outer case until the lower edge of the plunger has passed the lower edge of the outer casing.

I am aware that it is not new to construct a clothes-pounder of a cylindrical casing and a hollow plunger arranged therein, and provided with a series of partitions radiating from V a central tube, in which the operatinghandle is; fixed, and such, therefore, of itself I disclaim.

bination with the inner shell 1), having the operatin'g-rod'E, provided with'the surround? ing packing F, and the inner shell being constructed with the horizontal perforated partition Grand radial partitions H, having round- -ed lower edges, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

J. E. RAY, WM. P. BLAIR. 

